Dan Cooke
Dan Cooke is a well-known American broadcast journalist and weather anchor, currently lighting up the mornings as the Sunrise Weather Anchor for Hawaii News Now (HNN). He’s been a vital part of the HNN family since 2009, bringing his extensive broadcasting experience to viewers across the beautiful Hawaiian Islands with his morning weather forecasts.
Dan’s journey into public speaking and broadcasting started when he was just a kid. Back in eighth grade, he took part in the Optimist Oratorical Contest, thanks to a little nudge from his English teacher. For weeks, he practiced his speech every night, with his dad by his side, offering valuable feedback on everything from pacing to gestures. Those early lessons were instrumental in honing the communication skills that would later define his career in broadcasting.
At just 15, Dan kicked off his professional broadcasting journey at a small radio station in his hometown in southwest Missouri. His love for radio eventually led him to Hawaii in 1976, where he made his mark at several local radio stations, including KORL, KKUA, KQMQ, and KRTR.
In 1987, Dan made the leap to television, joining KITV as a weather anchor. At a time when weather coverage in Hawaii wasn’t getting much spotlight, he quickly became one of the most recognized meteorologists in the state. His reputation soared during Hurricane Iniki in 1992, when he stayed on the air for an incredible 16 hours straight, providing crucial updates as one of Hawaii’s most devastating hurricanes hit land.
After making waves in weather broadcasting, Dan took on more responsibilities at KITV by stepping into the role of news anchor. In 1995, he joined KHNL to help kickstart the station’s news operation, before making his way back to KITV in 2000.
Between 2002 and 2009, Dan took a break from broadcasting to explore the business world. He first helped run a startup and then ventured into resort real estate in Southern California. In 2009, he made his way back to Hawaii after accepting a role with KGMB’s Sunrise program. Later that same year, KGMB, KHNL, and KFVE came together to create a pioneering news partnership, which eventually evolved into Hawaii News Now, where Dan has been a key player on the Sunrise team ever since.
Today, Dan is still delivering reliable weather forecasts and lively morning coverage alongside his colleagues at Hawaii News Now. With his friendly demeanor and years of experience, he has become one of Hawaii’s most beloved and respected television broadcasters.
Dan Cooke Age
While Dan Cooke hasn’t shared his exact birthday with the public, we can piece together some clues. He kicked off his broadcasting journey at just 15 years old and made the move to Hawaii for radio in 1976. This leads us to estimate that he’s in his early 70s as of 2026, though his precise age remains a mystery.
Dan Cooke Education
Dan Cooke’s educational journey took place in southwest Missouri, where he first found his love for public speaking and broadcasting. It was during eighth grade that he took part in the Optimist Oratorical Contest, a pivotal moment that really honed his communication skills. Although he’s shared stories about his early days in broadcasting, he hasn’t revealed the name of the college or university he attended, if he did at all.
Dan Cooke Family
Growing up in southwest Missouri, Dan Cooke was fortunate to have parents who fully supported his broadcasting dreams. He often gives a nod to his father, who played a significant role in shaping his speaking and presentation abilities by coaching him through speech competitions as a kid.
Dan tends to keep his family life under wraps, so there’s not much public information about his parents, siblings, or extended family.
Dan Cooke Nationality
He proudly holds American nationality and citizenship. He was born and raised in the U.S. before heading to Hawaii to further his broadcasting career.
Dan Cooke Height
Cooke is approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall (1.75 m), although his official height hasn’t been confirmed publicly.
Dan Cooke Wife
When it comes to his personal life, Dan Cooke has chosen to keep things private. As of 2026, he hasn’t disclosed any information about his wife or his relationship status.
Dan Cooke Children
There’s no publicly available information confirming whether Dan Cooke has children. Throughout his broadcasting career, he has maintained a low profile regarding his personal life.
Dan Cooke Hawaii News Now (HNN)
Dan Cooke has been the Sunrise Weather Anchor for Hawaii News Now (HNN) since 2009. He made his way back to the islands after spending some time in Southern California, where he dabbled in resort real estate after taking a brief hiatus from broadcasting.
Dan kicked off his broadcasting journey in radio at just 15 years old in southwest Missouri before making the move to Hawaii in 1976. Throughout his radio career, he lent his voice to stations like KORL, KKUA, KQMQ, and KRTR. In 1987, he took a leap into television, joining KITV as a weather anchor.
He really made a name for himself during Hurricane Iniki in 1992, providing an impressive 16 hours of non-stop live coverage as one of the most devastating hurricanes to hit the islands unfolded. After that, he took on the role of news anchor, played a key part in launching KHNL’s news operation, and eventually found his way back to Hawaii television with Hawaii News Now.
Dan Cooke Ben Gutierrez
At Hawaii News Now, Dan Cooke teams up with the seasoned reporter and meteorologist Ben Gutierrez. Together, they work hard to keep viewers informed with trustworthy weather forecasts, timely updates, and community-centered reporting that spans the beautiful Hawaiian Islands.
Dan Cooke Guy Hagi
Dan Cooke has a long-standing partnership with Guy Hagi at Hawaii News Now. Both of these experienced meteorologists bring decades of forecasting expertise to the table and often join forces to deliver thorough weather coverage, especially during critical situations like hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding, and other severe weather challenges that impact the islands.
Dan Cooke Jennifer Robbins
Dan Cooke is also a key member of the Hawaii News Now weather team, which is led by Chief Meteorologist Jennifer Robbins. Alongside Jennifer, Guy Hagi, and Ben Gutierrez, Dan plays a vital role in providing precise daily forecasts and in-depth coverage of tropical weather, heavy rainfall, flash flooding, high surf, and other major weather events that affect Hawaii.
Dan Cooke Salary
As a seasoned weather anchor at Hawaii News Now, Dan Cooke is believed to earn an annual salary that falls somewhere between $85,000 and $160,000. However, the exact figure hasn’t been made public.
Dan Cooke Net Worth
Dan Cooke’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million. He has accumulated this wealth over a broadcasting career that has spanned more than forty years in both radio and television, along with his earlier ventures in business and resort real estate.
